(Newser)
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A mother in France is on trial for allegedly helping a man to rape her 4-year-old son. Sky News describes Lionel Barthelemy, 31, as the boy's stepfather but also as the boyfriend (not husband) of Sabrina Bonner, 25. Whatever the relationship, Bonner is accused of going to visit Barthelemy in prison with the boy; the man was serving a three-year sentence for domestic abuse. The two used trash bags to cover up the windows in the meeting room before Barthelemy allegedly raped the boy. The International Business Times says Bonner allegedly blindfolded the boy, made him kneel on a chair, and held his arms down during the attack.

Barthelemy confessed to the rape, but said Bonner encouraged it. Bonner is also accused of sexually assaulting the boy, now eight, at other times, recording those attacks, and giving the imprisoned Barthelemy the recordings; in one case, AFP reports, Barthelemy allegedly listened to an assault from his cell on a mobile phone. But Bonner says those incidents, as well as the prison rape, were carried out only because Barthelemy threatened to hurt her if she didn't do what he wanted. At issue in the trial is why the visit was not supervised, as it should have been; a solicitor representing the boy may take action against the jail next. He also says Bonner brought the boy back to the prison after the alleged rape, "knowing perfectly well that it was going to happen again."